A snowy Halloween

We had very little "Halloween" in our house this evening.  Catherine had to work, and Thomas went to his "girlfriend's" house and spent the evening hanging out there.  It was a very wet day, and around the late morning/early afternoon, the winds picked up and the temps went down.  About 6:00 this evening, I realized there were actually white flakes falling from the sky.  Right now at 8:00, it is 33 but feels like 21.  Needless to say, our trick-or-treaters were limited!

Looks like we are going to have a Red Wolf

Catherine loved her college visit yesterday.  When she arrived home, the letter she had been waiting for came in the mail.  She has been accepted, and plans to attend IU East.  She was so excited.  She still has some decisions to make in terms of housing, but she is thrilled with her plan at this point.  She is so excited!

Last night when I went to bed she was in her bed reading, and I peeked my head in to say goodnight to her.  Of course the thought that she won't be living at home next year made my eyes fill with tears, although I didn't allow her to see that.  We've also learned that the place where she really wants to live is a 12-month lease, which means her moving to school next year might really be her "moving out".  This mama's heart isn't ready for that, but my job has always been to make her a functioning, productive member of society.  That seems to be where she is headed.

Mid-week at the end of October

It's been a crazy week.  But then again, I guess I could say that most weeks.  I don't love the crazy schedule our family has, and I don't feel being busy is a "badge" of which to be proud.  It just is what it is.  It's about doing what needs to be done, and doing it well.  That is life in my opinion.

School has been particularly interesting.  Monday there was increased police presence at our high school.  It was a little bit unnerving, but overall I knew we were safe.  We aren't exactly sure what happened in the area, but there had been a situation and the extra police were on hand just to be on the safe side.  Yesterday I got called in at the last minute for the morning (I was already scheduled for the afternoon).  It was a rush to get here, and then I ended up being in for a teacher who is in two different rooms...and not close together.  While I was in the office during the plan period, a student ran by followed by the school SRO who was chasing him.  Not something you see everyday!

We've also still had band and those responsibilities, plus we are at the end of the month nearing the end of the year so work at church is really gearing up.  I had a doctor appointment yesterday, and of course it is another full five-day work week for me.  I really need to get back to meal planning, but I just don't love that.

Andrew is taking Catherine on a college visit today.  This is the very first place she visited back in the summer of 2018.  She has loved it ever since.  Today is specifically for the nursing program, and they also have an appointment to visit the place where she would be living.  I'm anxious to hear all about it!

Just another crazy week in our lives, but I wouldn't change a thing!

My birthday weekend

Yesterday I celebrated another trip around the sun.  Originally my plan was to stay home and just enjoy the day.  Life happens though, and things had to get done.  There was a congregation meeting called at church, and as the Treasurer who could explain finances, it was necessary that I be there.  I had some errands that needed to happen, and while I didn't really feel like doing them, as I told Andrew, I didn't see additional enthusiasm on the horizon so I might as well just go.  And I'll be honest, it was a sunny fall day, and I'm glad I went.

Friday evening I started on laundry and also made a quick trip to the high school football game to watch the kids march at half-time.  After that I ran to the grocery.  Saturday was cleaning and more laundry then we had friends over to watch the Notre Dame debacle against Michigan.  Ugh.

Andrew made dinner and then I opened cards and gifts.  I really enjoyed my weekend.  It was truly very lovely!

The leaves are falling

It's a cold, wet October Saturday.  Just the kind of day I love for sitting around and doing nothing.  That isn't exactly how my day is going to play out, but it is a Saturday so there will be some of that!  There are some awesome college football games on today, and I'm enjoying the fall feeling all around me.

The last Friday of October

It seems so hard to believe that the last Friday of October has already arrived.  This month has flown compared to September.  I was reading a post from a previous year, and I had written the same thing.  Kind of funny how the years follow a pattern.

I really enjoyed my nap yesterday afternoon.  I slept solidly for an hour.  It was delightful!  It's a good thing too, because I was up way too late last evening doing laundry, and then overnight I had a nightmare that someone was trying to kill me.  It was awful.  I kept forcing myself to wake up in an effort to try to end the dream, and I kept forcing myself to try and stay awake to make sure the dream wouldn't continue when I fell back to sleep.  Not exactly conducive to a good night of sleep.

But today is indeed Friday, and I always say that makes everything better!  The football game is home this evening, so I am planning to try to make it for the halftime show.  I need to clean the house and hit the grocery as well, because we are having some people over tomorrow evening.  We get to sleep in tomorrow though, and that always helps to get us through the day!

I have been looking forward to this afternoon

We've had an extremely busy week.  Our afternoons and evenings have been far from "free".  Monday after school I had to run some errands for band, and the kids had practice that evening.  I also had a volunteer over to work on wreath sale items.  Tuesday afternoon Catherine had an orthodontist appointment.  Thankfully she could drive herself because Andrew and I had a meeting, then he had another work meeting.  I went to work at church and then went to the grocery.  Catherine had to work for a few hours.  Andrew took Thomas to get a Halloween costume and I had Catherine bring home McDonald's for dinner.  We VERY rarely do that, but it just seemed necessary.  I was supposed to attend a meeting that evening, but decided I needed to be working on band stuff instead.  Yesterday Andrew took Thomas for his temporary permit.  I had an appointment after school, then had a meeting at the bank.  The kids also had a band concert last evening for which I had several duties myself.  By the time we got home, it was 8:30, and I had to finalize the information for our band fundraiser.  It's just the way things have been this week.

Today?  The kids have band practice right after school.  I will have over 2 hours of quiet by myself.  They have a quick Halloween parade this evening, but we should all be home by 7:30 at the latest.  I am so looking forward to all of us actually being home and not having to stress about getting something done.  I am really looking forward to this...and hope to take a nap!